Teacher Unions Reward Mediocrity, Fail the Students

Real Clear Politics ^ | February 22, 2006 | John Stossel

[george76]

"The teachers united will never be defeated!" chanted thousands of public-school teachers at a union rally.

They may be right -- unfortunately.

Teachers unions in this country are very influential because they can assemble a crowd.

Randi Weingarten, head of New York's teachers union, put out the word, and thousands of teachers filled Madison Square Garden to demand a new contract and more money.

That clout brings timid politicians into line.

The unions can pay for expensive rallies at "the world's most famous arena" because every teacher in a unionized district like New York must give up some of his salary to the union.

Even teachers who don't like the union, teachers who believe in school choice, and teachers who could make more on the open market must fork over their money to support the unions that fight against school choice and merit pay.

The unions use their clout to fight against the interests of the best teachers.

Union leaders make sure the teachers who work hardest don't get raises or bonuses.

Everyone with the same seniority and credentials must be paid the same.

That guarantees that no teacher will take home a dime for making extra sure that students learn.

Joel Klein, who as New York's schools chancellor runs the country's largest public-school system, put it this way:

"We tolerate mediocrity, and people get paid the same whether they're outstanding or whether they're average or, indeed, whether they're way below average."

Klein said that out of 80,000 teachers, only two have been fired for incompetence in the past two years.

Of course, unions do more than just protect incompetents.

[george76]

Some teachers care about the students, so they want to do more than the contract requires.

But astoundingly, some of them told (John Stossel that) they are actually afraid to stay at school when the union says it's time to go home.

They worry they'll "get in trouble with the union."

[AD from SpringBay]

Over time unions tend towards union money and less about the workers they say they represent.

[Houmatt]

Teacher Unions Reward Mediocrity

And Johnny just came to realize this recently?

Give me a break!

[capt. norm]

I am very well aware of how and why unions got started in the first place.

The circumstances then are light years away from what is happening today.

I can explain the differences but I think we are all fully aware of how corrupted the unions have become and the fact that they now exert a negative impact.

[upchuck]

February 22, 2006
Teacher Unions Reward Mediocrity, Fail the Students
By John Stossel

"The teachers united will never be defeated!" chanted thousands of public-school teachers at a union rally. They may be right -- unfortunately. Teachers unions in this country are very influential because they can assemble a crowd. Randi Weingarten, head of New York's teachers union, put out the word, and thousands of teachers filled Madison Square Garden to demand a new contract and more money. That clout brings timid politicians into line.

The unions can pay for expensive rallies at "the world's most famous arena" because every teacher in a unionized district like New York must give up some of his salary to the union. Even teachers who don't like the union, teachers who believe in school choice, and teachers who could make more on the open market must fork over their money to support the unions that fight against school choice and merit pay.

The unions use their clout to fight against the interests of the best teachers. Union leaders make sure the teachers who work hardest don't get raises or bonuses. Everyone with the same seniority and credentials must be paid the same. That guarantees that no teacher will take home a dime for making extra sure that students learn. Joel Klein, who as New York's schools chancellor runs the country's largest public-school system, put it this way: "We tolerate mediocrity, and people get paid the same whether they're outstanding or whether they're average or, indeed, whether they're way below average."

Klein said that out of 80,000 teachers, only two have been fired for incompetence in the past two years. That's because it takes years for a principal to fire an incompetent teacher. I can't explain the rules here, but you may be able to read a flow chart about them in my next book -- "may be" because the flow chart may be too big to fit in a book. The rules are so complex that they ought to begin: First, take a week off from running your school to study these rules. Many of the rules come from the union contract, which has 200 pages plus a mess of addenda. Even Klein, who used to practice antitrust law for the federal government, called the contract a "regulatory nightmare."

But the unions fight to protect the nightmare. Weingarten has a remarkable excuse: "Our union has actually stepped up to the plate and said we'll police our own profession."

I'd like to police my own job, too. And I'll bet some students would just love to police their own homework!

Of course, unions do more than just protect incompetents. Weingarten, on behalf of New York's teachers union, fought for a uniform day of six hours, 40 minutes. "Which is what normally happens in the private sector," she told me.

Funny. I work in the private sector every day, and I haven't seen that. Have you?

The teachers no longer have that either, though. Last year, they made a big concession. Now they have a uniform day of six hours, 50 minutes. That's nearly a whole additional hour every week!

Some teachers care about the students, so they want to do more than the contract requires. But astoundingly, some of them told me they are actually afraid to stay at school when the union says it's time to go home. They worry they'll "get in trouble with the union." It's as if the teachers, united, never to be defeated, made a decision: Instead of letting the administrators crack down on bad teachers, the union will protect the bad teachers by cracking down on the good ones.

Maybe that's what Weingarten calls policing their own profession.

I confronted Weingarten. "Unionized monopolies like yours fail. In this case, it is the children who -- who you are failing."

"We are not a unionized monopoly," she retorted. "And ultimately those folks who want to say this all the time, they don't really care about kids."

Really, Ms. Weingarten? You fight to protect a system that rewards mediocrity, and then you claim your critics don't care about kids?

Give Me a Break.

[george76]

John Stossel confronted Weingarten. "Unionized monopolies like yours fail.

In this case, it is the children who -- who you are failing."

"We are not a unionized monopoly," she retorted. "And ultimately those folks who want to say this all the time, they don't really care about kids."

Really, Ms. Weingarten?

You fight to protect a system that rewards mediocrity, and then you claim your critics don't care about kids?

Give Me a Break.

[DainBramage]

You can't teach students well if they don't even speak english, or show they up high, or never do their homework.

Thats a larger portion of the students than people realize.

[upchuck]

Link to Stossel's column from last week, Teacher Unions Are Killing the Public Schools.

[N. Theknow]

It might be instructive to learn why unions were started in the first place.

It might be instructive to learn why buggy-whips were invented in the first place.

[capt. norm]

The miners union did NOTHING to prevent that disaster.

Safety has been a ruse used by unions for ages but what they are really after is the dues of the members and all the fun they can have manipulating the money and ripping off the members.

Please don't tell me you haven't heard anything about all the investigations, union officials mysteriously disappearing, sent to jail, etc.

On the balance, in the last 30 years unions have done a lot more harm than good. Once the crooks learned how to take them over and clean them out, it was all over.

[Houmatt]

Uh, surely you are not saying the union could have saved those miners?

Considering how far into industries like mining they are, I find it hard to believe the unions did not know about the many safety violations and yet did nothing about it.

[doctor noe]

While true that teachers' unions reward mediocrity, bad parenting has wreaked more havoc on public education.

[Calpernia]

>>>The unions can pay for expensive rallies at "the world's most famous arena" because every teacher in a unionized district like New York must give up some of his salary to the union.

And receive grant funding through NGOs.

[Daytyn71]

I used to feel bad for teachers. Oh, what a tough job they have. But after seeing Stossel's Report on 20/20 my opinion has totally changed. The UFT is the most powerful union in the Country and care more about their jobs and their pensions than care about educating children. In NYC we are spending over $10,000 per kid (double of what we were spending 20 years ago) and yet only about 50% of 8th graders can read and do math at their grade level. The system is failing our kids and our Country. The Unions have to be broken to fix a broken system. We need to push a voucher system now!!!

(By the way, I've dated more than a few teachers in my life - some of the dumbest people I've ever met. I fear for my children's future and the future of this Country.).

[capt. norm]

You are so much into carrying the water for the unions, it's nearly impossible to have an intelligent discussion with you.

You must be beholden to them for some reason, but I am not blinded by such a bond.

Corruption has infected the unions like a cancer and you won't even comment on that fact. The Democratic Party was once a respectable organization, but look what has happened to it.

Once you the unions up on a pedestal, the thugs that run them can run roughshod over its members but nobody can say anything because they are "sacred cows"

In defending what they do, you become an accomplice.

[capt. norm]

We can talk about child workers, company towns, company stores and scrip, killings, beatings...all the fun stuff I know you'll be happy to discuss.

Right, but you refuse to discuss the present corruption.

All you can talk about is the past BEFORE they became corrupt. Secondly that's all covered by laws now anyway so how is that relevant today?

What started out as a good idea was ceased upon as a cash cow by the criminal element, but because they Once did some good, they are now immune from criticism.

Remember, dollar uber alles.

....That's what I'm wondering about your zeal in defending corrupt organizations. If that's how you get yours, so be it.

[italianquaker]

Why do i have to spend MY MONEY on public schools whern i dont use and will never use there services

[MarxSux]

Embarrassing to whom? The captains of industry from those bad old days are long dead.

[Eska]

Poor parenting ensures that our public school system will have an endless supply of deadenders lacking basic social skills or the ingrained drive to attain success.

It all starts with the family. Can't figure how some conservatives can be so blind.

[genghis]

freedom and capitalism work
socialism doesn't.
It amazes me that so few understand this.
We need a separation between the state and education.

[george76]

The politicians in Hawaiian also can not figure out (or do not want to figure out) that gas price controls also do not work.

The result is that Hawaii has the highest prices in the nation.

The unions protect the lazy and/or incompetent. Many good teachers leave because of the union rules.

[george76]

But Hillary said that it takes a village.../s

Your point is correct. There are many bad parents. In fact, there are many parents who are not in their children's lives at all.

Many prefer the more exciting life of drugs and crime.

Many parents are teenagers/children themselves. They have not grown up.

Sometimes, it is the grandparents are raising their grandkids because "mom" or "dad" are gone.

There is a huge burden to try to raise these kids. Often the challenges are not met.

[Born Conservative]

If you have asked to be added to this list, and haven’t been receiving the pings, please let me know. I’ve had a problem with my file synchronization between my home and work computer, and apparently have lost some names on the list. I think I have the problem fixed, and will gladly re-add your name.

[wintertime]

While true that teachers' unions reward mediocrity, bad parenting has wreaked more havoc on public education.

6666666666666666666666666666''\

Hmm,,,,According the the NEA only teachers are smart enough to teach kids. Yet,,,,when the kids don't learn it is somehow the parent's fault?

Sorry,,,,you can't have it both ways.

By the way, my homeschooled kids were admitted to college t the young ages 13, 12, and 13. I had plenty of time to hang out on the community college campus and watch high school grads struggle through remedial courses.

If community colleges can teach kids remedial reading and math in two years, then the government schools could have taught it long before these kids hit college.

[traviskicks]

On the 'job banks' that NY city teachers go to when they cannot be fired:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/com-2_15_06_JS.html

[wintertime]

It all starts with the family. Can't figure how some conservatives can be so blind.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&77

According to the NEA only certified teachers are qualified to teach children, yet, when children fail to learn it is somehow the parents fault.

Sorry,,,you can't have it both ways.

By the way, my homeschooled kids were admitted to college at the young ages of 13,12, and 13. Since I had to drive them and pick them up, I had plenty of time to hang around the campus. What I witnessed was small armies of high school grads being tutored in remedial reading and math.

If the community college could teach these illiterate and semi-literates and innumerates and bring them up to college level in two years, then the government school could have done that all along~!

[Eska]

Maybe not in yours or mine, but the failure of the American family affects us all just the same. Maybe you should turn on fox news and see the real world. You can't run or hide from the problem either; eventually you will feel the pain in taxes or crime.

Today, teachers are required by Fed law to attempt to raise proper citizens. Academics has taken a back seat to all the socialization not being accomplished by parents.

You can preach the benefits all you want about homeschooling and I won't dispute the fact your kids are getting a better education. Truth of the matter is that homeschooling is a small part of education in America. Public education is here to stay. I guess I had my own eyes opened to the scope of the problem when I spent some volunteer time in the local school.

Can't blame it all on those evil, commie teachers.

[wintertime]

Maybe not in yours or mine, but the failure of the American family affects us all just the same


%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Teachers love to blame the parents.

If it were the parents' fault, why are the KIPP schools doing so well? They are working wonders with the most disadvantaged children in America?

Why are the KIPP schools working?

They are working because they are teaching!

[.cnI redruM]

Just wait until a fairly large percentage of the union membership is retired. Than you'll you'll see how little they really care about the ones still in the classroom.

[moog]

While true that teachers' unions reward mediocrity, bad parenting has wreaked more havoc on public education.

There's a combination of factors to consider, both of the examples you cite as two of them, though to be honest, as a teacher, I don't reward mediocrity and don't know of many teachers who do. But that's just here. Obviously different in other places. While I'm not a big fan of big media types like Stassel, this does tell me that as a teacher, I need to make sure I do my part by working to help my first graders achieve and to do it the best I can. Now, I think next week, we'll learn 3 sounds instead of 1 :) HEHEHEHEHE:).

[moog]

It all starts with the family. Can't figure how some conservatives can be so blind. I don't think the family is JUST to blame. We often forget about things like the media and individual responsibility/accountability too, not to mention some teachers too. BUT having an involved nuclear family indeed helps. Teachers love stay-at-home moms too. I'm glad there are many families around here who do expect their kids to achieve.

[moog]

Many parents are teenagers/children themselves. They have not grown up. Sometimes, it is the grandparents are raising their grandkids because "mom" or "dad" are gone. There is a huge burden to try to raise these kids. Often the challenges are not met.

As a teacher, I've seen all types, but I completely agree here. I have one student who has his grandparents raising him. His mom is coming around--she's off drugs now, but all of a sudden she's pregnant again (I have no idea where his dad is, all I know is the kid deosn't see him). This boy has had a lot to overcome, but with the love and guidance of his grandparents he has come a long way. He went up over a grade level (from second to third in my first grade class) last month. He has some issues such as being overly active, but he is a wonderful boy with a wonderful heart. I sure appreciate his grandparents too. He is going to be one student who I will remember and keep in touch with for years to come.

[moog]

Just wait until a fairly large percentage of the union membership is retired. Than you'll you'll see how little they really care about the ones still in the classroom. I agree and I think there will be a shift.

[moog]

Teachers love to blame the parents. Many people just love to blame someone else period. We all need to look in the mirror, me especially. I agree that when there is teaching involved, things "work." It's something I learned and applied long ago. And I am still learning from others. If you can't learn from others, you ain't learning.

[george76]

A local baby boomer couple who were planning their retirement recently had their daughter permanently drop off her five kids. One is a baby.

She is now off on to more fun with more drugs.

No reports on who the fathers are...or if the mother plans on having more kids.

The grandparents now get retirement posponed another 20 years. If they live that long.


The kids did not deserve this.

[moog]

A local baby boomer couple who were planning their retirement recently had their daughter permanently drop off her five kids. One is a baby. She is now off on to more fun with more drugs. No reports on who the fathers are...or if the mother plans on having more kids. The grandparents now get retirement posponed another 20 years. If they live that long. The kids did not deserve this. I ABSOLUTELY agree with you. Since I have not been able to have kids of my own yet have really wanted to, NOTHING draws my ire more than hearing when someone abuses that privilege of raising a child. If you have a family, you have a RESPONSIBILITY to that family. I bet the couple didn't plan on having to re-raise kids too. Thanks for sharing, something for me to remember.

[Anselma]

This is a wonderfully clear article, and provides examples of the Mommy Thinking (it's the thought or emotion that counts- not the result!) and the corrupt effects of a socialized approach (the losest common denominator becomes the "standard").

Too bad Rudy Giuliani ain't around to throw RICO at the NY teachers' union. Now there's a thought ...

[MEGoody]

Are they? I think there's some recently dead miners that might disagree.

Kind of a difference between a union fighting for worker safety and a union that fights to keep substandard performers in teaching positions.

[Anselma]

You wrote: "While I'm not a big fan of big media types like Stassel, this does tell me that as a teacher, I need to make sure I do my part by working to help my first graders achieve and to do it the best I can."

First, it's not 'Stassel'.

Second, one would have thought that you would have done your part to, ummm, let's say, for lack of a better word, "teach" loooooonnnnngggg before you read this particular article.

Third, how much one loves children or how hard one tries to teach them or communicate with them is irrelevant, if what we are talking about is competence in teaching.

'Warm & fuzzy' counts, yah, but it's not what taxpayers pay you for in the ultimate analysis.

[moog]

First, it's not 'Stassel'. I knew someone would catch that. I was just wondering who would. Thanks.

Second, one would have thought that you would have done your part to, ummm, let's say, for lack of a better word, "teach" loooooonnnnngggg before you read this particular article.

Didn't know you had seen me before, but the answer is short and simple..... I did and I do.

Third, how much one loves children or how hard one tries to teach them or communicate with them is irrelevant, if what we are talking about is competence in teaching. 'Warm & fuzzy' counts, yah, but it's not what taxpayers pay you for in the ultimate analysis.

To me if you love the children, you make SURE that you teach and that they progress. As a male, I'm not the "warm and fuzzy" type too much, but I sure make sure they know how proud of them I am when they do achieve (i.e. go up a reading grade level) after learning to work hard to get their goal.

I agree with you on that one. Caring is more than just being a teddy bear.

[Thoeting]

KIPP schools are successful. The teachers are indeed teaching.Of course the kids go to school from 7:45 until 5:00 pm every day, and Saturday school. In addition to the time spent in school they have 2 hours of homework and 30 minutes of reading a day--required. At night, they are expected to call their teachers for homework assistance.

These teachers take them away from their families for the majority of their waking hours. Which in the case of inner city kids may be a very good thing. But this type of school is not reproducible in the suburbs.

http://www.keyacademy.org/key/dayinthelife.asp

The above is a link to " A day in the life of...." to illustrate my point. Connected with this link are also test scores to compare how these kids do stacked up against D.C. Public Schools.

It is obvious that KIPP does a great job , but I would wager very few suburban parents would be interested in this setup.

[Thoeting]

One more tidbit about KIPP. The KIPP DC Academy was established in 2001. Clicking on the teacher information buttons gives a short bio about that specific teacher. Not one teacher is mentioned as being there from the beginning. The majority are from 2003 or 2004. The burn rate on teachers must be fierce.

[wintertime]

It is obvious that KIPP does a great job , but I would wager very few suburban parents would be interested in this setup

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

How magnanimous of the government to make the choice for the parents.

Hey,,,,we all know that only professional teachers can judge what is best for other people's children.

(sarcasm)

[Thoeting]

So, you think most suburban parents would want their kids to go to a KIPP type school?

[Thoeting]

BTW, you do know that the teachers at KIPP have degrees and are also considered "professional teachers." They meet whatever standards are set by their community. It's not as if they pull random strangers off the street and tell them to teach.